Species of birds include bluebirds, indigo buntings, and whip-poor-wills. Oak Openings lends shelter to the habitat of weasel, mink, skunk, fox, raccoon and deer as well as the endangered spotted turtle.

In the fall, Oak Openings offers one of the area's most spectacular foliage displays. Evergreen and Springbrook Lakes are open to fishermen of all ages, while Mallard Lake my be fished by children 14 and under. There is skating on Mallard Lake when ice conditions permit.

For the walker, there are 11.5 miles of short and medium length trails and a 17 mile hiking trail. The park also has 5.5 miles of all purpose trails, 23 miles of horse trails, a 4 mile cross country ski trail. For daily skiing conditions, call the Metroparks SNOWline at 382-7669.

Oak Openings Preserve supports a substantial number of species considered endangered or threatened by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and in some cases, the federal government. The Metroparks naturalist staff conducts rare species monitoring, particularly in the oak savannah and prairie areas. Recently, several endangered plants and insects have been discovered: Skinner's foxglove; Sundews, a tiny, carnivorous plant; Unexpected cycnia, a small moth; and Frosted elfin and Persius dusky-wing, both rarely seen butterflies. Naturalists are also monitoring several animals in the preserve - lark sparrows, salamanders and rare turtles.*

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